Long Billed Silhouettes
Another quick trip to the Gulf coast yesterday found several Long Billed Curlews at sunrise that were prime time for some silhouette shots. Was hoping for some more Skimmers but didn’t see any on this trip. The randomness keeps me going back as you never know what you are going to see.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500 F4 IS II with 1.4X III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/1000 Sec @ F8, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
1/2500 Sec @ F11, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
In the Skimmer Lane
Calm winds and low tide equaled some good low-level photo op’s at Bolivar Flats yesterday. Met up with a couple of other photographers, Matt & Susan, and hit the sand bars. Started out getting some Avocet silhouette shots and then moved west. Picked a good spot and ended up directly in the flight path of more Black Skimmers than I’ve seen for a long time. They kept coming flying right towards us in waves. My camera did a good job of keeping the birds in focus for the head-on shots.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4X III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/500 sec @ F8, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
1/500 sec @ F8, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
1/400 sec @ F5.6, ISO 4000, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
Blurred Blast-Off
Blast off’s by a large flock of Geese are always fun to hear and photograph. It’s a challenge to get sharp photos before the sun comes up so I typically go for blurred shots using shutter priority. First photo is of Geese and the second is a flock of Black Birds. Taken on a chilly morning at Anahuac NWR in SE Texas last weekend.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4X III teleconverter, handheld
Shutter priority, 1/8 sec @ F9, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
Shutter priority, 1/8 sec @ F18, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
Reflecting on the Start of 2015
It’s tough to express any true reflections on a year that just started, so instead, here is my first reflection shot from 2015. Looks like it could be a good year.
It’s easy to ignore Coots in SE Texas as they are very abundant and can be somewhat boring but in the right light with a good background, they can stand out with the best of them. Had to expose for the white beak so no positive exposure compensation on this one. Taken at Anahuac NWR in Texas.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4X III teleconverter, handheld out the car window
1/800 sec @ F7.1, ISO 1600, evaluative metering
Tim Timmis Photography 